Surgical Steel Heart [Doctor x Reader]

The King

You walk side-by-side with Dr. Carter. The hallways of Lery's Memorial are typically lively, but conversations die down whenever Dr. Carter walks through the halls. With the reputation he has, it's no surprise that they try to keep a low profile.

This leaves the new hire approaching you in a horrible position, as there is no way for him to get your attention without also getting the doctors. The poor young man trembles as he taps your shoulder.

"Pardon me, but a surgery you were originally scheduled for is going south. We need you to..." Visible beads of sweat form on his head. You assumed he would be a bit nervous to speak to you, but this nervous? He looks like he'll cry if the doctor so much as looks at him.

He takes a shaky breath before continuing. "Uhm. I know you canceled, but my... my supervisor said it's an emergency, so..." You turn to check in with Dr. Carter and immediately understand the young man's stuttering. You've seen the doctor's face twist and contort into all sorts of expressions before, and while a vast majority of them are sadistic in nature, none were this hostile. He looks ready to tear the young man apart.

Before you can reply, the doctor speaks for you. "My surgeon is busy." Both you and the young man's eyes widen. A similar feeling to the one you experienced in Dr. Carter's office arose. Fear... though it's more anxious than scared. Yet somehow, it isn't uncomfortable. Instead, it makes your heart race.

"But it's an emergency, I-" He's interrupted again. A sharp pain in your shoulder causes you to wince. The doctor had wrapped his arm around your back, his hand clenching the shoulder the young man had tapped. His message is clear. The young man nods once and scurries away.

"Someone needs to teach that boy some manners." Though he releases his hold on your shoulder, there is still anger lingering in his voice. His hand trails down from your shoulder until it rests on your back, his fingers rubbing gently against the fabric of your coat. Your body stiffens. To avoid squirming, you hold your breath until he moves his hand off your back.

The remainder of the walk is silent. Dr. Carter stands even closer now, his arm occasionally brushing against yours, ensuring the adrenaline never leaves your veins until you reach the operating room.

A male patient is already strapped down to the table when you enter. Upon seeing Dr. Carter, the man wails. He begs frantically for his life between sobs and heavy breaths. The doctor does not acknowledge the man, he just hums to himself as he gathers his tools.

You've never seen such raw, unbridled terror before. Seeing a patient before the doctor mutilates them beyond recognition is unsettling. You're forced to see the humanity of the people you help him torture.

As the doctor approaches the table, the man promises the information to the doctor. Before he can surrender it, the doctor installs a cheek retractor in his mouth, inhibiting his ability to speak. "He was about to give you the information, why did you stop him?" You question. The doctor smiles at you, excited to explain his reasoning.

"No one this willing to betray their cause for personal safety is sent to Lery's. He's faking it. And besides, why waste such a perfect opportunity to experiment?" The doctor laughs, making your heart sink. His initial explanation was surprisingly sane, it makes sense too. But that wasn't the point. He doesn't actually care about getting the information. His own sick goals are his real motivation.

"I see." You keep your head down. You're fascinated by the doctor, and yet you feel ashamed of that fascination. There is no hiding his cruelty, but he is still ambitious and incredibly intelligent. He knows what he wants, knows how to get it, and isn't afraid to take it. His disregard for others is why he's made it so far. Perhaps that's what you're doing wrong. Worrying about other people may be holding you back from finding purpose in your life.